Dreams of Knitting

So yesterday was supposed to be a big day of me cleaning my house. That didn't happen. Alas, neither did any knitting. We ran a bunch of errands yesterday. We went to Home Depot for weed killer. We then went to Michael's for needles and yarn to make my kitty project for my upcoming Blog Tour Date. (I let my cats pick which project they wanted me to make and they went crazy for the page with all the mice so....) Well, I know Jess says I am not a yarn snob, but I refuse to buy things from Michael's anymore. So if not a yarn snob then at least a price snob. First NOTHING was on sale. They didn't even run an add this week. Second, they wanted $9.99 for a set of 10.5 bamboo dpn's, and at least $6.00 per skein for wool yarn. Now, I know that yarn can be pricey but I've found much nicer wool yarn for less money on-line. I couldn't see spending $28.00 to make a few mice for my cats. (I have to make 3 mice in 3 different colors or they will fight. I am not joking.) Then we went to Sprint to pay our phone bill. I thought we'd have to pay between &150-$200 to keep it on, but we only had to pay $90. (Happy Dance! Come on you know you want to boogie with me LOL) That means I am better at keeping up with my bills than I give myself credit for! Of course, we drove to the east side of town where all 3 stores are close to each other to save gas. (We mainly did this for Sprint) Well, Home Depot was out of the weed killer and Sprint's pay inside machine was broken. So instead of saving gas we had to drive to the west side of town (which is where we normally go b/c it is closer to home) to get our supplies and my husband had to sit on hold for 20 min to pay the phone bill. Very frustrating and a big time waster.


When we finally got back home I went on to knitpicks.com and placed my first order from them. I ended up getting 2 balls each of some clearance wool for $1.79 each. That is 6 balls for $10.74. Instead of 3 balls for $18.00. (That is a savings of $25.26 if I bought an equal amount of balls.) I got the 10.5 bamboo dpn's for $6.14 (A savings of $3.85). I also bought some size 5 harmony needles with 2 cables a 40" and a 47" for my shawl. I got the knitters handy guide to yarn requirements (recommended by Knit Science on an early pod-cast of hers)and some needle size ID tags. Also last but not least I bought stuff to make SOCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Holy crap!!!!! I am scared out of my mind but I needed to get to $50.00 to not pay shipping so I went for it. I got size 3 harmony dpn's and 2 skeins of Riverbed Multi Essential sock yarn. That's right people I'm going to finally conquer one of my multiple knitting fears and will attempt socks. Silver's tutorial here I come. I might use some waste yarn and the 10.5's just to get the hang of it but mark my words I will make these socks. I am so excited. I even dreamt about it last night. (I think this is partly due to the fact that I didn't knit at all yesterday and am experiencing withdrawal. I need to get to the library to print out my shawl pattern ASAP!)


I am also experiencing something I can only call "Knitting the wrong thing with the yarn I received as a gift from Jessie"-phobia. I want to make stuff with the yarn she has given me but I don't know what. I have 3 balls of micro spun yarn, 8 balls of vintage soft pink sport weight yarn, and a whole mess of brown yarn in differing weightsand types (which I am going to make into a chevron scarf for a friend). I don't know what to make with these 2 different yarns. Any suggestions?


In closing I'll leave you with this. I found this thing laying randomly on my computer desk this morning. I think it came from a Kinder Egg (yes the link takes you to a Canadian site, they can't sell these in the US b/c of the super small parts that come in the toys). I looked at it and said I wonder if this would make a good yarn guide for Fair Isle. I think I really need to get out more. Here's the pic:

Do you think it would work if I glued a ring back to it?

Have a great day!

House warming Party/Finished KAL

Well, I haven't posted the last few days b/c I was busy knitting my heart out for Allysia's housewarming party and getting myself ready for Jess's brother's wedding next Saturday.

On Friday I took my dress to be altered, colored my hair (I do it myself), and started cleaning my house b/c Jess will be here on Wednesday. I can't wait to show her that my house is 1/2 the size of hers. I know that is nothing to brag about but she always laments that her house is small and it so isn't (she has a separate dining room for the love of God LOL!!!)


Andrea--Makes sure to ask her about it when she gets back and have fun watching Helix. You are so sweet to do that!!!


Also, on Friday I met my husband and some of his co-workers for dinner @ TGIFridays. It was pretty good. We had a nice time. It was relaxing, even though I never get to drink b/c I meet everyone at the restaurant so Len and I are always in separate cars. One day I'm going to make him take me there on a day off b/c they have a couple different Mojitos I'd like to try and also some different Sangrias....but I digress.


Saturday, I knit up the second cloth for Allysia, I gave her my mid-Feb dishcloth. I alternated the colors for the second one.. (I'll post the pics at the bottom) Then I went and got my haircut. (Which Len didn't even notice even though I had more than 3 inches cut off! He is still in hot water for that one)


I had to go to the party alone b/c Len had to work, and I was really nervous about it. Mainly b/c there was supposed to be like 40 people there and I was only going to know 5 people including Allysia and William. Also 2 of those people were supposed to be late so I was stressed out. Much like I was for Jess's Christmas party. (Thank God for Alicia b/c I just stayed in her group and then I could make comments to her and I knew she would know what I was talking about!) I know not to count on being paid attention to by the hosts b/c they are so busy attending to everyone. Well, it turns out that Allysia's mother Judy (Who was supposed to be late but got there before I did) was there, her sister Brenda, 4-5 people who I went to church with when I lived in Sierra Vista (which is how I know Allysia FYI),a girl I had gone to high school with named Nikki, and Shawn (Allysia's best friend) were all there. It made me feel a little better knowing a couple more people. There was so much food and after an hour and a 1/2 only about 12 people were there and Allysia was freaking out. Then more and more people started trickling in and she ended up with about 34 people. One of those people was Carol Milloy. That lady is a crazy riot. But she brought "Are you smarter than a 5th grader" on Nintendo DS and 15 of us sat around the table and racked up about 2.9 million dollars. (This was over 4 hours and so many times we left w/ Nada so it's actually pretty sad!) However for life we will all know that the brightest planet in the night sky is Venus. That questions was asked 5 different ways at least during the games. I ended up eating so much food that my stomach hurt. Judy made 2 different salads, chocolate cookies, peanut butter fudge, Mac and Cheese, baked beans, and punch. Shawn made a couple different Korean items. Something that looked like Sushi but was made of rice, veggies, beef and was wrapped in a seaweed wrap. She also made vegetable dumpling and some dipping sauces for both. There was also an assortment of cookies, brownies, cakes, potato salads, and hot dogs and hamburgers. I ate so many sides I couldn't even eat my burger. Finally 4 & 1/2 hours later Len showed up. He played Wii with William and the other guys and we played air hockey. We didn't end up leaving until 10:30 and I had gotten there at 3! Needless to say, I got to know a bunch more people and had a really good time. I also got several orders for more dishcloths. I think I should start selling them at craft fairs LOL! I could probably make a couple bucks each which wouldn't be too bad!


All right well, I need to stop rambling on and continue to clean my house. We also have to go grocery shopping. Albertson's is having an awesome 10 for 10 sale that I am stoked about. Then I need to finish mt shawl pattern for week 1 b/c I got week 2 yesterday. The second week only added 23 more rows but still. I don't want to get too far behind.

Pay it Forward

Here is a cool contest. (Get your blog writing friends to read this too!)



Because I was the second person to post a comment on Sew-Funky's blog I will get a prize and all I had to do was promise to do the same.



The rules are:
The first three people to comment on this post will receive a gift from me, sometime within the next 365 days. Who knows when it will turn up, or what it will be, but rest assured, it will arrive. All you have to do is promise to make the same declaration on your blog, and send out gifts to three of your lovely readers. Easy Peasy.



Eileen



PS If you don't have a blog maybe we can work something out to branch this beyond bloggers.

Cutest Kitties ever!

Well, I am now up to row 34 of my shawl. I have only frogged it twice. The first time is because I was doing the wrong decrease. In the grand scheme of things I know that no one would really see the difference, but I would know there was a mistake so out it went. The second time is b/c I dropped a stitch. I am trying to do a life-line but I can't find a small enough needle. I guess I need to go to the store and try to find one, but then I have to figure out what I am going to use as the line. Floss? It seems to be my only viable option b/c everything else seems too big. Any suggestions? Also I finished day 2 of my dishcloth. I think it is so cute.

Now to my kitties, Max finally decided to pose on a project and I found Emma using my lace yarn ball in the cutest way. See pics below.

Can you see the little windows being created?


See the bottom is pink now instead of blue. See other post for comparison.


Max "the Mayor of Kitty-ville" (Must be said with a really bad Scottish Accent--Don't ask!)
Emma AKA Baby girl, Bushka, & Bemma.

Pics of Projects and weekend update

OK, so I am going to do a picture diary of my shawl and my dishcloth. I was able to do the first 10 rows of my shawl. The pic doesn't look like 10 rows but that is b/c the yarn is so fine. I was worried about that, but I like it so far so here's hoping. Later today I am going to the library to print out my chart for the shawl so I can keep better track of where I am. The people in my "Mystery" group were so helpful in getting my to understand the chart. I'm still nervous but frogging is the worst that can happen b/c I'm pretty sure the world won't blow up if I mess it up.

In other news, we went to my Uncle Mike's house last night. He gave us a washing machine which is awesome! Len also spent the evening hooking up my grandparents TV so they can have Tivo again. They are very happy. My grandma promised my husband some of her famous coffee cake in return for his service. (He is so lucky b/c the coffee cake is AMAZING!!!!!--I'll take pics of it when we go have some b/c the crumb part is so thick and yummy and I want to share with you LOL.) Also, I showed my grandma my lace yarn and she said you're going to make something with that? How is that possible it is so thin? I said I know but we're just going to have to wait and see.

Also, my Mother-in-law Linda (whom I also refer to as 'Mom') wanted me to clarify a statement I was told she made. She didn't say that my knitting was a phase. She just told my husband that I would have less time to be obsessed once I started my new job. (I know I said I got the job but I then had to submit to a medical review and am waiting for the results-not worried though, just anxious to get started.) She told me that even though knitting is labeled a "craft or hobby" she feels that it is an art. She and my father-in-law Tony (who tells people at his job that I knit which is awesome b/c it means he talks about me at work which is more than I can say about my own dad but that is for another post....) feel that I am very talented and that my knitting pieces are "works of art". She wanted to be very clear that I understood that. They are so supportive and they appreciate the time it take for me to produce the items I make. I think it is awesome that they are so encouraging. It really makes me feel good about myself.

Well that is enough babble for now (look Andrea 2 new posts in less than 24 hrs!!!). Look at my pics and have a great day!!!!

Here is the right side. As you can see it is a 2 color project with yarn carrying up the side. Can I just say that I love Knitty Gritty b/c I just saw an episode on how to do yarn carry.

Here is the wrong side. (I'm guessing on which side is which but feel pretty confidant that I am right)
Like the map drawn on the table we rescued for going to the dump?


Here is the shawl. Does it look like 10 rows to you?

Eileen

Sending out an SOS......In over my head

OK, so this is the first day of my new projects and I am already in trouble. I've never done a lace pattern chart before and I feel very intimidated. I don't understand the instructions and sent so many questions to the pattern writer that I feel I will be kicked out of the group due to utter ignorance. Also, I am starting a new dishcloth KAL today once the pattern gets posted. I am off my rocker with these projects. In good news I have finished the main part of the blanket I made for Len's brother. However, I have to make stars and they are not coming out very well. I don't know how to fix that so I guess it's back to the drawing board.


I am in knitting distress Mayday.....mayday......yarn overboard!

What kind of yarn are you?

What kind of yarn are you?

You are Merino Wool.You are very easygoing and sweet. People like to keep you close because you are so softhearted. You love to be comfortable and warm from your head to your toes.
Take this quiz!

I think this is about right. Especially the I love to be warm part. Take the quiz yourself and let me know the results!!!!

Dinner with Allysia

Well, last night I went to my friend Allysia's house for dinner. It was the two of us, my husband Len, her husband William, and her mother Judy. We had a good time. Allysia made pork loin with Port-Fig sauce, roasted fennel w/ Parmesan cheese, and scalloped potatoes. Her mom made a chocolate cake for dessert (really for Williams b-day, but we ate it for dessert). We had a good time. We played Wii, talked about knitting (I talked they listened and pretended they knew what I was talking about LOL), and got caught up on our family's gossip.

My arm is very sore today form all the Wii playing. It was a whole lot of fun and makes me want one even more than before. I know I'd play that thing all the time and then maybe Len would stop saying that all I do is knit and talk to people on-line about knitting.

That reminds me, I feel very isolated and foreign to the people around me. No one that I see or talk to on a regular basis (except Jessie) knits. So none of them understand my fascination or as they call it obsession. There was a funny post on Claudia's blog (see blog list) about Super wash sheep and everyone who I talk to about it looks like I have 3 heads or something. Also when I talked about the Yarn Harlot "sock incident" and said that it was all over the place William said "I didn't hear it on Headline News today." HAHAHA They think they are so funny. They didn't understand when I explained it was on a lot of the blogs I read and talked about non-stop on Ravelry. That is why I blog here and chat on Ravelry. Y'all (or at least most of you) get it. (Hi Mom (yes you Linda)- thank you for reading this even though you think this is just a phase that will pass. I appreciate your support even though you don't understand.)

Well, I bought more yarn today just some Sugar 'N Cream that was on sale for my dishcloth KAL and I ordered some size 5 circular needles that are supposed to be good for lace, they should be here soon. I got them on E-bay for $4.50 w/ free shipping. You can't beat that with a stick (unless the needles are super cheap and break or something) I did some research and they are supposed to be good but you never know.

Well, I guess thats all I have for now. Hope everone is having a great weekend. I have to go check on my roast in the crock-pot. I'll let you know tomorrow how it turns out.

Eileen

Finished Kal

OK so here is my finished February Dishcloth. For those who can't see it it is a Valentine candy box. I took a pic of both sides. I couldn't decide which one was better. Let me know your thoughts. PS. I am adding a bonus shot I took this morning in the shade on the side of my house next to my truck. I didn't realize that even with the truck behind me and no flash it would reflect on the white cloth but I guess I was wrong LOL!

My kitties are so cute

Lately it has been so cold here in Tucson. It snowed here the other night. Not by my house but out by where my husband works there was 8 -10 inches. Crazy. Well, my cats have been super cold so they have been bundling themselves in my knitting blankets (both in progress and finished).
Here is Corky. He is almost 5 years old, weighs 22 lbs. and he is 4 &1/2 ft. tall on his hind legs. He is so muscular that I swear he works out.

This is my baby girl Emma. She is from the same litter as Corky, yet she weighs just under 8 lbs. She is my cuddle buddy. I usually find her on my lap right when I am ready to start knitting. She helps me make sure I have good yarn tension.

This is Max. Granted he is not on one of my projects in this pic but I think he is super cute in it so I wanted to share it.

Eileen

KAL's, KAL's Everywhere

Greetings from Knit-a-long land. I have signed up to do a Mystery Shawl KAL which starts Feb 16th. I have ordered the yarn (which is very yummy and is my first experience w/ yarn porn!)and will pick up the needles this weekend. Also, I joined a Dishcloth KAL. We do 2 clothes a month. 1 is a theme one and 1 is a decorative pattern. I am 4 days into a 7 day pattern for my Feb. cloth. The pics follow. This --> : - P <--is for Jessie. (That is me sticking my tongue out) She was telling my the benefits of taking pics of your knitting in natural light verses inside w/ a flash. I thought she was full of it. But no as usual she was right I was wrong. (See the captions under the pics for the rest of the explanation) This is on the side of the house on a concrete block walk-way. I didn't think the pattern would be very visible since I knit it in white and I couldn't see the screen on my digital camera while I took this photo b/c the sun was behind me reflecting off the camera. I was wrong.

This is a close-up. I'm pretty good at taking pics blind right?

This is facing the sun on the hood of my truck. Still not too bad.
This is the photo in my house on my "photo taking" chair w/ a flash. I suck Jess was right. I should always listen to everything she says. Maybe that is why she had me play Lemmings at her house all the time. She was training me!!!!

Eileen

Woo-Hoo Giants!!!!

I'm so sorry to all my Boston viewers and all Patriot fans, but yee-haw the Giants WIN!!!!!!!!!!!! I screamed so much in the last quarter. It was such a low key game up until then. I can't even believe it happened. I hate that they beat Green Bay but I'm glad they beat Dallas and then the Patriots.

My personal opinion is what goes around comes around. There is a lot of controversy surrounding the Patriots. They have been accused of spying on other teams for a couple of years now, maybe if they clean up their act they will be worthy of a 19-0 season. This loss just reinforces my belief in karma.

In other news I got a lot of knitting done during the first 3 quarters.

Eileen

It is time for an intervention....

I need to be forcibly removed from my computer. My husband said if I look today like I did yesterday when he got home (a couple hours late so it is partially his fault), he was going to unplug the computer and take it with him to work. He said nothing is worth you looking like a zombie. It's true I was drained.

He also said I looked sad, That is because I read on "I'd rather be knitting"'s site (see blogs I like) that her former students father had died in Iraq. He was a couple weeks away from coming home. That led me to think of my own brother Patrick who is currently in Iraq. I tell myself that he's been gone for 9 months and has been fine, so he'll be fine for the next 6 too. I think I tell myself that b/c I HAVE to believe that in order to make it through every day.

It's kinda like how I survive my Mom being dead too; I wear these signs on my back kinda like badges and sometimes when I am obsessing w/ Ravelry, or driving Jess crazy w/ my knitting questions, or laughing at something on TV, I forget those badges are there and then something happens and I all too suddenly remember. It's not like I am trying to forget, it just hurts sometimes to think about it. So, I guess I carried the worry on my face more than I realized yesterday. With that in mind I ask y'all to watch this video. My brothers unit was profiled for a piece on the Armed Forces Network. My brother is in many of the shots and also makes a statement to the camera. His name is Oaks. Let me know what y'all think.

I got it-I finally got it!!

After a day of freakish anticipation, I finally got my Ravelry invitation. I have been checking my e-mail every 3 min all day. I finally said to myself "You just need to chill". So I got off the computer, pick up the blanket I've been working on and watched an episode of Monk. (It's nice to see someone whose OCD is WAAAAY worse than mine LOL!) You should feel honored that I stopped the starting up process to jot down my excitement, but I'm done dancing (at least for y'all) and I've got to get back to exploring what Tech Knitter called the "greatest time suck ever". I told that to my husband and he said "great" and shook his head :).

See ya laters,

Eileen